Method of fitting artificial limbs



J. F. ROWLEY. METHOD OF FITTING ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

APPLICATION HL ED MN. 27, I919.

Patented Sept. 7,1920.

JAMES nnowrrsx, or enrceeo, I r vo'rs.

METHOD or FITTING: alarm-rarer. muss.

Specification of Letters Iatent. Patented Sept- 7, 1%)29:

Application filed January27, 1919. Serial No. 273,397, 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, dawns F. RowLnY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and av resident otChicago, county of Cook, and

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1nMethods of Fitting Artificial Limbs, of which the fol lowing is aspecification. v

The mam ObJQCtS of this inventlon are to provide animproved method ofmaking a cast of the stump of an amputated limb for the purpose offitting to it the socket of the artificial limb.

Heretofore it has been customary in fittlng artificial limbs, to'make aplaster cast of the stump by allowing the stump of the limb to rest upona mass of plaster of Paris on a board, packing around it a quantity ofplastersoas to-build up a mold matrix which can be used for casting areplica of the stump. Such method usually results in a cast whichdiffers from the normal shape the stump of the limb in that the cast isflat at the back due to the fact that the muscles of the stump yieldunder the weight of the limb resting on the board.

In the herein-described improved process,

however, the aim is to provide a cast which,

' is identical in form with the stump of the limb when subjected toequal pressure on all sides as it'should be when the artificial limb ismounted thereon. a

Figure 1 is a detail View of the unwaxed matrix base used for purposesof this inven tion.

Fig. 2 shows the matrix base in position v on a stretcher board wheresaid matrix is;

placed after being waxed.

Fig. 3 shows the waxed matrix base in position on the stump leg.

Fig. 4; shows the waxed matrix base after its removal from the stumpleg.

Fig. 5 is the cast from the matrix shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the limb socket as it is formed,

around the cast.

In carrying out my improved process, I first cover the stump of theamputated limb' with a suitable stocking 1 and powder this thickly withtalc. I then take a second stocking 2, which might be designated amatrix base, illustrated in Fig. 1, preferably made of coarsely knittedwool, and coat or impregnate this with wax such as paraffin.

This may be accomplished by first dipping the matrix base into moltenwax, withdrawing it and inserting therein a stretcher board 3 ofsuitable shape such as 1s used for stretching woolen stockings whiledrying the same, and, \VllllGthG matrix base is on the stretcher board,pouring upon its outside surface-an The suradditional quantity of thewax.

face of the matrix base 2 is'then scraped to spread the wax uniformlyover it, and while the wax is at properltemperature to prevent it fromcracking, the matrix base is removed from the stretcher and-drawn overthe stocking-covered ,and powderedstump and shaped to fit the stump.This is preferably done while the wax is about as hot as the patient canbear it.

In shaping, the matrix two things are essential, one, a pulling ofthematrix by the 1 patient usually, and the other, the manipula tionof'the fleshy parts of the stump by the fitter. The patient takes holdof each-side of the stocking at the knee and draws it up tightly on thestump leg and continues to hold the same'in place. The fitter thenencircles the waxed stocking with hishands proceeding to work the stumpstocking with its wax embodiment upward over the bearing surfaceimmediately below the knee, thereby displacing the soft parts of thestump leg sufiiciently to obtain a correct cast of the stump leg underpressure so that the matrix will obtain an impression which ispractically the same contour as the fleshy parts of the stump leg whenthe weight of the patient is imposed in a socket of the artificial leg.

During this pulling and shaping of the matrix the wax is allowed to cooland harden, while the matrix is in place on the stump of the limb,whereupon it becomes rigid but may be withdrawn from the stump becausethe powder prevents it from adhering thereto. It is then filled withplaster and when the plaster has set, theparaffin-impregnated stockingis heated to softenthe paraf fin and is peeled off from the cast 4.

The cast is then dressed to remove any roughness and sized to render itwaterproof. A piece of cordovan leather of suitable size (permeated withwax of a melting point above 14c0?) is formed and fitted on the caps. 1

It will'be understood that some of the de:

altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this inventionas defined by the following claims; r Y

I claim; 4 V

5' 1. The-method of obtaining a cast of the stump of an amputated limb,which consists in providing a matrix base formed of stretchable fabric,coat ng the same with wax, and while the wax is soft, pulling on in saidbaselongitudinally oi? the stump of the,

limb, nninipulating the stump with the hands so as to displacethe fleshyparts of the leg 7 i 0 to the stump of an amputated limb, which consistsin providing a matrix base formed of stretchable fabric, coating thesame With wax, and, while the wax is soft, stretching said baSGllPOllthe stump of the limb, by

25 subjecting it to a pulling strain directed. up-

wardly along the limb, manipulating the stump with the hands so as todisplace the v fleshy parts of the leg and cause said base to be shapedsubstantially assaid stump 30 would be normally when in place in a stumpsocket, and while the stockingii's thus subected to strain andmanipulation, allowlng the wax to harden, then removing said base andfilling the same .With plastic material to form the cast, then shapingthe socket of the" artificial limb to exactly fit said cast.

3. The methodof fitting an artificial limb to the stump of an amputatedli nb whieh consists in providing a matrix base of V stretchable fabricof stockingform woven so' as to contract transversely when subjected toa longitudinal pull, stretch ng said base upon the stump of theartificial limb and exciting a pull. thereon at its upper edgeupwardly,

along the limb, manipulating the stump with the-hands so as todisplacefthe fleshy parts of the leg and cause said base to be shapetil,

substantially as said stump would be nor-.

mally when in place in a stum 'isocket, sim'ultaneously therewith,rendering the stocking rigid by means of a waxsubstance which is allowedto set 'while the matrix base is under strain and manipulatiomthenremoving sa d matrix base and making a cast ott-theiii.

terior thereof, and then shaping the socket of an artificial limb to fitsaid "cast; 7

Signed at Chicago this 18th day ofJan. 1919. a 1 i JAMES F. nonmii rf"

